Dan Jarvis has called on Andy Burnham to increase UK defence spending to meet specific Nato targets [1].
The request signals a push for a concrete financial roadmap to ensure the UK maintains its security commitments amid shifting global threats. Failure to meet these targets could strain the UK's relationship with its Nato allies, and undermine collective deterrence.
Jarvis said Burnham should "evidence the trajectory" toward a goal of spending £25bn [1] a year more for the military by 2030 [2]. This increase is designed to align the UK's budget with the broader requirements of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
Jarvis said he was confident that the prime minister-in-waiting valued national security. The call for transparency regarding the funding path comes as the government evaluates its long-term strategic priorities.
According to Jarvis, the target represents "£25bn a year more for the military by the middle of the next decade" [1]. This figure is central to the effort to bolster the UK's defensive capabilities, and infrastructure.
Burnham has not yet provided a detailed breakdown of how the government intends to reach this spending level. The request for a clear trajectory emphasizes the need for a sustainable plan rather than a series of short-term budget increases.
“"evidence the trajectory"”
This push for a defined spending trajectory reflects a broader tension within UK politics regarding the balance between domestic social spending and international security obligations. By pinning the goal to a specific 2030 deadline and a £25bn annual increase, Jarvis is attempting to lock the future administration into a measurable commitment that prevents the security budget from being sidelined by other political priorities.
